Spreader for particulate material with improved spread control

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for spreading particulate material has a bin for holding particulate material, a rotatable disc for broadcasting the particulate material to a ground surface, a conveyor for conveying the particulate material in a particulate material path from the hopper to the rotatable disc, and a plurality of sluices situated in the particulate material path between the bin and the rotatable disc. Each sluice receives a portion of the particulate material and delivers the portion of particulate material to a radial and/or angular position on the rotatable disc. At least one of the sluices is independently moveable to adjust the radial and/or angular position on the rotatable disc to which the portion of particulate material from the at least one independently moveable sluice is delivered.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication U.S. Ser. No. 62/595,844 filed Dec. 7, 2017, the entirecontents of which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD

This application relates to apparatuses for spreading particulatematerial.

BACKGROUND

Spinner spreaders are known in the art for broadcasting particulatematerial to a ground surface (e.g. an agricultural field, a road, andthe like) for a variety of applications, for example, spreadingfertilizer, fertilizer supplements, seed, sand, gravel, road salt, limeand the like. Spread pattern of the particulate material is dependent onspinner design, including size, placement and orientation of fins on aspinner disc, and on rotational speed of the disc. Distance to whichparticulate material is ejected may be controlled by the spinner designand the rotational speed of the disc, but uniformity of the spreadpattern may be unduly affected when the disc speed is changed,especially when the rotational speed is reduced below a certain rate.However, for some applications, it is desirable to be able to reduce thedisc speed while maintaining a uniform spread pattern. In otherapplications, it is desirable to be able to manipulate the spreadpattern to provide a desired pattern.

Therefore, there remains a need in the art for a spinner spreader thatprovides greater control over spread pattern.

SUMMARY

There is provided an apparatus for spreading particulate material, theapparatus comprising: a bin for holding particulate material; arotatable disc for broadcasting the particulate material to a groundsurface; a conveyor for conveying the particulate material in aparticulate material path from the hopper to the rotatable disc; and, aplurality of sluices situated in the particulate material path betweenthe bin and the rotatable disc, each sluice receiving a portion of theparticulate material and delivering the portion of particulate materialto a radial and/or angular position on the rotatable disc, at least oneof the sluices independently moveable to adjust the radial and/orangular position on the rotatable disc to which the portion ofparticulate material from the at least one independently moveable sluiceis delivered, each sluice comprising substantially vertically orientedside walls, an open first end for receiving the particulate materialfrom the conveyor, an inclined floor inclined downwardly from the firstend to an open second end of the sluice so that the particulate materialin the sluice flows freely out the open second end.

A method of controlling spread pattern of a particulate materialbroadcasted by a spinner spreader, the method comprising: permittingparticulate material to flow through a plurality of sluices situated ina particulate material path between a bin and a rotatable disc of aspinner spreader, each sluice receiving a portion of the particulatematerial and delivering the portion of particulate material to a radialand/or angular position on the rotatable disc, each sluice comprisingsubstantially vertically oriented side walls, an open first end forreceiving the particulate material from the conveyor, an inclined floorinclined downwardly from the first end to an open second end of thesluice so that the particulate material in the sluice flows freely outthe open second end; and, adjusting the radial and/or angular positionon the rotatable disc to which the portion of particulate material fromat least one of sluices is delivered by moving the at least one of thesluices relative to the rotating disc thereby changing the spreadpattern of the particulate material broadcasted by the rotatable disc.

In an embodiment, each of the plurality of sluices is independentlymoveable to adjust the radial and/or angular positions on the rotatabledisc to which the portions of particulate material from theindependently moveable sluices are delivered. In an embodiment, theplurality of sluices comprises at least four sluices. Each of thesluices may be moveable longitudinally, transversely, vertically,rotationally or any combination thereof. Each sluice may beindependently moveable in at least one of a longitudinal, transverse,vertical or rotational direction. Each sluice may be independentlymoveable in two, three or all four of the longitudinal, transverse,vertical and rotational directions. In some embodiments, the sluices maybe collectively moveable in at least one of the longitudinal,transverse, vertical and rotational directions. The sluices may becollectively moveable in two, three or all four of the longitudinal,transverse, vertical and rotational directions. The ability to move thesluices in a number of different directions permits fine tuning of thespread pattern of the particulate material.

In an embodiment, each sluice comprises substantially verticallyoriented side walls, an open top for receiving the particulate materialfrom the conveyor, an inclined floor inclined downwardly from a firstend to an open second end of the sluice so that the particulate materialin the sluice flows freely out the open second end. In an embodiment,the sluices are disposed transversely to one another to form a series ofparallel channels. In one embodiment, adjacent sluices of the series ofparallel channels abut each other at the substantially verticallyoriented side walls. In one embodiment, the sluices do not share commonside walls.

The sluices are moveable using any suitable mechanism. For example, thesluices may be moveable manually, using one or more crank adjusters,using one or more linear actuators, using one or more hydrauliccylinders, using one or more pneumatic cylinders, or some combinationthereof. Each sluice may be moveable by its own dedicated mechanism ormechanisms, or may be moveable by a mechanism or mechanisms common tomore than one sluice. In an embodiment, the plurality of sluicescomprises an elongated securing element that passes through alignedelongated slots in the side walls so that each of the sluices rests onthe elongated securing element, each of the sluices independentlytranslatable on the elongated securing element when not secured by thesecuring element and not translatable when secured by the securingelement. In an embodiment, the elongated securing element comprises athreaded rod and one or more nuts, wherein tightening the one or morenuts on the rod immobilizes the sluices and loosening the one or morenuts on the rod permits the sluices to translate on the rod.

In an embodiment, the rotatable disc comprises first and secondrotatable discs, and the plurality of sluices comprises first and secondsets of sluices, the first set of sluices delivering the particulatematerial to the first rotatable disc and the second set of sluicesdelivering the particulate material to the second rotatable disc.

Deliberate control of the radial and/or angular position to which theparticulate material is delivered to the rotatable disc and the speed atwhich the particulate material is delivered to the rotatable disc may beused to develop custom spread patterns for the particulate material. Therotational speed of the rotatable disc controls rotational positions atwhich the particulate material is broadcasted from the rotatable disc.The speed at which the particulate material is delivered to therotatable disc controls the amount of particulate material deliveredfrom the rotatable discs in a given time period. Manipulating thesevariables permits fine tuning the spread pattern of particulatematerial. Additionally, accuracy of the spread pattern may be furtheradjusted by altering the size and/or shape of the open rear ends of thesluices. For example, narrower sluices may reduce the likelihood of theparticulate material shattering when delivered to the rotatable disc bylocalizing the particulate material more toward the center of the discwhere rotational speed of the disc is lower.

Further features will be described or will become apparent in the courseof the following detailed description. It should be understood that eachfeature described herein may be utilized in any combination with any oneor more of the other described features, and that each feature does notnecessarily rely on the presence of another feature except where evidentto one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For clearer understanding, preferred embodiments will now be describedin detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a spinnerspreader;

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the spinner spreader of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of a spinner spreader of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view through A-A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 depicts a cross-sectional view through B-B in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view through C-C in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 depicts the spinner spreader of FIG. 1 including deflectionplates over spinner discs;

FIG. 8 depicts a magnified side view of a rear end of the spinnerspreader of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 depicts a division of particulate material spread patternproduced by the spinner spreader of FIG. 7 with all sluices at the samelongitudinal position;

FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B and FIG. 10C illustrate how particle spread patternis affected by increasing (FIG. 10B) and decreasing (FIG. 10C)rotational speed of the spinner discs of the spinner spreader of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C illustrate how particle spread patternis affected by forwardly (FIG. 11B) and rearwardly (FIG. 11C) moving asluice of the spinner spreader of FIG. 7; and,

FIG. 12 illustrates how moving sluices and adjusting rotational speed ofspinner discs can be used to manipulate particle spread pattern toswitch off one of eight broadcast sections of the spinner spreader ofFIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, one embodiment of a spinner spreader 1comprises a hopper 5 mounted on a frame 10, the frame 10 comprising aplurality of support rails 11 (only one labeled) for supporting thehopper 5 on the frame 10. The frame 10 is mounted on a vehicle (notshown), for example a truck, a trailer and the like. The hopper 5 isdesigned to contain particulate material (e.g. fertilizer, fertilizersupplements, seed, sand, gravel, road salt, lime and the like) to bespread on a ground surface as the vehicle drives or is driven on oradjacent the ground surface.

The spinner spreader 1 further comprises a pair of adjacent conveyorbelts 15 (only one labeled) situated at a bottom of the hopper 5 andoriented longitudinally with respect to direction of motion of thevehicle. The conveyor belts 15 transport the particulate material in thehopper 5 toward a rear of the hopper 5, and therefore toward a rear ofthe spinner spreader 1. The conveyor belts 15 comprise endless beltsrotationally mounted on transversely oriented drive rollers 16 (only onelabeled) located proximate the rear of the spinner spreader 1, and ontransversely oriented idler rollers 18 (only one labeled) locatedproximate a front of the spinner spreader 1. The rollers 16, 18 arerotatably mounted on the frame 10. There are separate drive and idlerrollers 16, 18 for each conveyor belt 15 so that the conveyor belts maybe driven independently, permitting driving the conveyor belts atdifferent speeds, or even stopping one conveyor belt entirely, ifdesired. The two drive rollers 16 may be physically separated, or form anested arrangement in which one of the drive rollers is hollow and aportion of the other of the drive rollers is mounted inside the hollowdrive roller on bearings, permitting the two drive rollers to beoperated independently. The same kind of nested arrangement may beutilized with the idler rollers 18. The drive rollers 16 are driven byhydraulic motors 17 (only one labeled) mounted on the frame 10. Theconveyor belts 15 extend rearwardly past a rear wall 7 of the hopper 5transporting the particulate material out of the hopper 5 through ahopper outlet 8 into a transition box 12. A flow divider 9 situatedbetween the two conveyor belts 15 in the hopper 5 and the transition box12 keeps the particulate material separated into two flow paths.

Two sets 20 (only one labeled) of individually translatable sluices 21(only one in each set labeled) are disposed below rear ends 19 of theconveyor belts 15 to receive the particulate material flowing off therear ends 19 of the conveyor belts 15. One set 20 of sluices 21 isassociated with one of the conveyor belts 15 and receives theparticulate material from the one conveyor belt 15. The other set ofsluices receives the particulate material from the other conveyor belt,thereby keeping the flow paths of particulate material separate. Each ofthe sets 20 is shown with four individual sluices 21, although the setsmay comprise more or fewer sluices and/or each of the sets need not havethe same number of sluices. In some embodiments, each set may have one,two, three, four, five, six or more sluices.

With specific reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, each of the sluices 21comprise substantially vertically oriented side walls 22. The sluices 21have open tops, but are closed at a bottom and front thereof by aninclined floor 23. The floor 23 is inclined downwardly from front torear so that the particulate material may flow freely out of open rearends of the sluices 21. The open tops may comprise funnels 24 to guideparticulate material from the conveyor belts 15 into the sluices 21 sothat each sluice 21 receives a portion of the particulate material, eachportion being substantially the same amount. The funnels atop the endsluices in each set of sluices may be flared outwardly from the sets ofsluices to ensure that all of, or at least most of, the particulatematerial falling off the conveyor belts 15 enters the sluices 21.

With specific reference to FIG. 8, the sluices 21 are disposedtransversely to one another to form a series of parallel channels. Eachof the side walls 22 of each of the sluices 21 comprise a longitudinallyoriented elongated slot 25 situated in the side wall 22 below the floor23. All of the slots 25 in a given set of sluices are parallel to eachother and transversely aligned so that a threaded rod 26 maybe insertedtransversely through all of the slots 25 in the sluices of the given setthereby supporting all of the sluices in the given set on the rod 26.Loosening one or more nuts, for example one or both of nuts 29 (see FIG.5, only one labeled) on the threaded rod permits the sluices 21 totranslate longitudinally forward and backward on the rod 26 by virtue ofthe elongated slot 25. Once the sluices 21 have been moved to desiredlongitudinal positions, the nuts 29 may be tightened on the rod 26 toimmobilize all of the sluices 21 in new longitudinal positions. Becauseeach of the sluices 21 supported on the rod 26 are individualstructures, the sluices 21 may be longitudinally positionedindependently of each other.

The spinner spreader 1 further comprises deflection plates 30 (only onelabeled) mounted on the frame 10 to a rear of the sets 20 of sluices 21.The deflection plates 30 downwardly deflects the particulate materialexiting from the open rear ends of the sluices 21.

The spinner spreader 1 further comprises a pair of adjacent spinnerassemblies 40 (only one labeled) mounted on the frame 10 at the rear ofthe spinner spreader 1 behind the hopper 5 and below the sluices 21. Ifdesired, the spinner assemblies may be mounted on a side of or in frontof the hopper, with the sluices and conveyor belts positionedaccordingly, but mounting the spinner assemblies behind the hopper ismore typical in the art. Each spinner assembly 40 comprises a spinnerdisc 41 having a slightly concave upper surface that receives theparticulate material from one set 20 of the sluices 21. Each spinnerassembly 40 comprises a substantially vertically oriented spinner driveshaft 42 attached to a center of the spinner disc 41 and to a spinnerdrive motor 43. The spinner drive motor 43 is mounted on a spinner motormount 45 mounted on the frame 10. Operation of the spinner drive motor43 causes the spinner disc 41 to rotate in a plane parallel to theground surface. Particulate material from the sluices 21 landing on thespinner disc 41 is propelled horizontally off the spinner disc 41 underthe influence of centripetal force to be broadcast outwardly from thespinner spreader 1. The upper surface of the spinner disc 41 furthercomprises radially oriented fins 44, which assist with propelling theparticulate material off the disc 41. The fins 44 may be designed toenhance throw distance and uniformity of spread pattern of theparticulate material. While four fins 44 per spinner disc 41 areillustrated, each spinner disc 41 may comprise fewer or more fins, forexample, each spinner disc 41 may comprise one, two, three, four, five,six or more fins.

The particulate material transported by one of the conveyor belts 15through one set 20 of the sluices 21 is delivered to one of the spinnerdiscs 41, while the other spinner disc of the pair receives theparticulate material transported by the other of the conveyor beltsthrough the other set of sluices. Because the longitudinal position ofthe spinner discs 41 is fixed, longitudinal translation of an individualsluice 21 results in the portion of particulate material from theindividual sluice 21 to fall on the corresponding spinner disc 41 at adifferent radial position on the disc 41. Thus, swath control of theparticulate material broadcast from each spinner disc 41 can becontrolled independently for each disc 41 by independently controllingspeed of the conveyor belts 15, longitudinal position of each sluice 21in each set 20 of sluices 21, and rotational speed of each disc 41.

While a pair of conveyor belts, two sets of sluices and a pair ofspinner assemblies are illustrated in the embodiment shown in theFigures, it is understood that the spinner spreader may comprise one ormore conveyor belt, one or more set of sluices and/or one or morespinner assembly, where one or more may be, for example, one, two,three, four or more.

Referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 12, the spinner spreader 1 provides improvedcontrol over spread pattern of the particulate material being broadcastby the spreader 1.

FIG. 9 illustrates a division of particulate material spread pattern 50(individually labeled as 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, 50 d, 50 e, 50 f, 50 g, 50 hfor the particle spread pattern from each sluice) and particletrajectories 60 (individually labeled as 60 a, 60 b, 60 c, 60 d, 60 e,60 f, 60 g, 60 h for the trajectory from each sluice) produced by thespinner spreader 1 when all of the sluices 21 (individually labeled as21 a, 21 b, 21 c, 21 d, 21 e, 21 f, 21 g, 21 h) are at the samelongitudinal position. The sluices 21 are in two sets 20 of sluices, thesets 20 individually labeled as left set 20 a and right set 20 b. Thesluices 21 a, 21 b, 21 c, 21 d are in the left set 20 a, while thesluices 21 d, 21 e, 21 f, 21 g, 21 h are in the right set 20 b. Theindividual particle spread patterns 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, 50 d, 50 e, 50 f,50 g, 50 h correspond to the individual trajectories 60 a, 60 b, 60 c,60 d, 60 e, 60 f, 60 g, 60 h, respectively, which correspond to theindividual sluices 21 a, 21 b, 21 c, 21 d, 21 e, 21 f, 21 g, 21 h,respectively. Particle flow paths from each sluice 21 a, 21 b, 21 c, 21d, 21 e, 21 f, 21 g, 21 h are illustrated in dashed lines.

Still referring to FIG. 9, particulate material flowing out of thesluices 21 is delivered to the spinner discs 41 (individually labeled asleft disc 41 a and right disc 41 b) to be broadcast to the groundfollowing the illustrated trajectories 60. The left disc 41 a broadcastsparticulate material delivered by the left set 20 a of sluices and theright disc 41 b broadcasts particulate material delivered by the rightset 20 b of sluices. The particulate material delivered from one of thesluices in one set of sluices is dropped on the associated spinner discat a different radial distance from a center of the spinner disc thanthe particulate material delivered from the other of the sluices in thatset. For example, the particulate material from the outermost sluice 21a in the left set 20 a is dropped on the left disc 41 a proximate acenter 48 a of the left disc 41 a. In comparison, the particulatematerial from the innermost sluice 21 d in the left set 20 a is droppedon the left disc 41 a proximate a periphery 49 a of the left disc 41 a.Consequently, the particulate material from the outermost sluice 21 aspends more time on the left disc 41 a and has a more rearwardtrajectory 60 a compared to the particulate material from the innermostsluice 21 d when the respective particulate materials are finallybroadcast by the spinning left disc 41 a. The two middle sluices 21 b,21 c deliver particulate material at different radial positions on theleft disc 41 a, which are intermediate between the more central positionof the particulate material from the outermost sluice 21 a and the moreperipheral position of the particulate material from the innermostsluice 21 d. An equivalent arrangement applies to the right disc 41 bhaving a center 48 b and a periphery 49 b, and servicing the right set20 b.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, the arrangements of sluices 21 and spinnerdiscs 41 described above can provide a uniform spread pattern 50 ofparticulate material through an angle of about 240° behind the spreader1.

The trajectory and spread pattern of particulate material delivered froman individual sluice is affected by the rotational speed of the spinnerdiscs. Thus, the integrity of the spread pattern illustrated in FIG. 9would be disrupted if an operator wants to alter the rotational speed ofone or more of the spinner discs. For example, with reference to FIG.10A, FIG. 10B and FIG. 10C, increasing the rotational speed of the rightdisc 41 b (FIG. 10B) in comparison to a ‘normal’ rotational speed (FIG.10A) causes the particulate material delivered to the right disc 41 bfrom the sluice 21 e to be broadcast from the right disc 41 b at aposition transversely rightward from the position the particulatematerial is delivered at the ‘normal’ rotational speed of the right disc41 b. Thus, the trajectory 60 e and the spread pattern 50 e of theparticulate material delivered by the sluice 21 e are skewed to theright when the rotational speed of the right disc 41 b is increased(compare FIG. 10A to FIG. 10B). Conversely, decreasing the rotationalspeed of the right disc 41 b (FIG. 10C) in comparison to a ‘normal’rotational speed (FIG. 10A) causes the particulate material delivered tothe right disc 41 b from the sluice 21 e to be broadcast from the rightdisc 41 b at a position transversely leftward from the position theparticulate material is delivered at the ‘normal’ rotational speed ofthe right disc 41 b. Thus, the trajectory 60 e and the spread pattern 50e of the particulate material delivered by the sluice 21 e are skewed tothe left when the rotational speed of the right disc 41 b is decreased(compare FIG. 10A to FIG. 10C).

The trajectory and spread pattern of particulate material delivered froman individual sluice may be altered by adjusting position of theindividual sluice forward or rearward (i.e. longitudinally) with respectto the other sluices. Independent adjustment of the longitudinalposition of an individual sluice adjusts the radial position at whichthe particulate material from the individual sluice is dropped on thespinner disc, because longitudinal position of the spinner disc remainsfixed. The ability to independently adjust the longitudinal position ofeach sluice permits compensating for changes in the rotational speed ofone or more of the spinner discs to maintain spread pattern integrity.For example, with reference to FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C,rearwardly translating the sluice 21 e (FIG. 11B) with respect to theother sluices causes the particulate material to drop on the right disc41 b radially closer to the center 48 b than when the sluice 21 e is ina ‘normal’ longitudinal position (FIG. 11A). The particulate materialtherefore resides for a longer period of time on the spinning right disc41 b before being broadcast, resulting in the particulate material beingbroadcast in a particle trajectory 60 e that is skewed to the right(compare FIG. 11A to FIG. 11B). As a result, the spread pattern 50 e ofthe particulate material from the sluice 21 e is also skewed to theright (compare FIG. 11A to FIG. 11B). Conversely, forwardly translatingthe sluice 21 e (FIG. 11C) with respect to the other sluices causes theparticulate material to drop on the right disc 41 b radially closer tothe periphery 49 b than when the sluice 21 e is in a ‘normal’longitudinal position (FIG. 11A). The particulate material thereforeresides for a shorter period of time on the spinning right disc 41 bbefore being broadcast, resulting in the particulate material beingbroadcast in a particle trajectory 60 e that is skewed to the left(compare FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C). As a result, the spread pattern 50 e ofthe particulate material from the sluice 21 e is also skewed to the left(compare FIG. 10A to FIG. 11C). Particle flow path from the sluice 21 eis illustrated with a dashed line in FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C.FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C illustrate that trajectory and spreadpattern of the particulate material delivered from any particular sluicecan be skewed left or right by altering the longitudinal position of theparticular sluice.

Deliberate control of the longitudinal position of one or more of thesluices, the rotational speed of one or more of the spinner discs andthe speed of one or more of the conveyor belts can be used to developcustom spread patterns for the particulate material. The rotationalspeed of the spinner discs controls rotational positions at which theparticulate material is broadcasted from the spinner discs. The speed ofthe conveyor belts controls rates at which the particulate material isdelivered to the spinner discs. FIG. 12 illustrates one possibility inwhich particle spread pattern is manipulated to switch off one of eightbroadcast sections while maintaining a uniform spread pattern in theother seven broadcast sections. With reference to FIG. 12, the left set20 a of sluices and the right set 20 b of sluices receive particulatematerial from a left conveyor belt 15 a and a right conveyor belt 15 b,respectively. The left set 20 a of sluices and the right set 20 b ofsluices deliver the particulate material to the left disc 41 a and theright disc 41 b, respectively. The particulate material is normallybroadcast into broadcast sections. The broadcast sections comprise fourleft-side sections 70 a, 70 b, 70 c, 70 d on a left side of the spreader1, the four left-side sections 70 a, 70 b, 70 c, 70 d each correlatingto the four sluices 21 a, 21 b, 21 c, 21 d (see FIG. 9), respectively,of the left set 20 a of sluices. Likewise, the broadcast sectionscomprise four right-side sections 70 e, 70 f, 70 g, 70 h on a right sideof the spreader 1, the four right-side sections 70 e, 70 f, 70 g, 70 heach correlating to the four sluices 21 e, 21 f, 21 g, 21 h (see FIG.9), respectively, of the right set 20 b of sluices. However, it may bedesirable in some applications to switch off broadcasting theparticulate material to section 70 h while maintaining a uniform spreadpattern across the other seven sections 70 a, 70 b, 70 c, 70 d, 70 e, 70f, 70 g. To accomplish such a custom spread pattern, the left conveyorbelt 15 a and the left disc 41 a may be operated at normal speeds withthe left set 20 a of sluices in the normal longitudinal positions,thereby delivering 1 unit of particulate material to each of the fourleft-side sections 70 a, 70 b, 70 c, 70 d. On the right side, the rightconveyor belt 15 b may be operated at three-quarters of the normalspeed, the right disc 41 b may be operated at lower rotational speed andthe right set 20 b of sluices may be translated rearwardly. The lowerrotational speed of the right disc 41 b and the rearward translation ofthe right set 20 b of sluices are balanced so that section 70 h receivesno particulate material, and the other three right-side sections 70 e,70 f, 70 g each receive the same amount of particulate material as eachof the left-side sections (i.e. 1 unit), but each of the threeright-side sections 70 e, 70 f, 70 g receive particulate from two of thesluices of the right set 20 b of sluices. Particle flow paths from eachsluice are illustrated in dashed lines. Thus, section 70 e receives 0.75unit of particulate material from the sluice 21 e and 0.25 unit ofparticulate material from the sluice 21 f; section 70 f receives 0.5unit of particulate material from the sluice 21 f and 0.5 unit ofparticulate material from the sluice 21 g; section 70 g receives 0.25unit of particulate material from the sluice 21 g and 0.75 unit ofparticulate material from the sluice 21 h; and, section 70 h receives noparticulate material. Each of the sluices 21 e, 21 f, 21 g, 21 h of theright set 20 b of sluices delivers a total of 0.75 unit because theright conveyor belt 15 b is operated at three-quarters of the normalspeed. However, the particulate material delivered by each of the foursluices 21 e, 21 f, 21 g, 21 h is divided between the three right-sidesections 70 e, 70 f, 70 g as a result of balancing the lower rotationalspeed of the right disc 41 b with the rearward longitudinal translationof the right set 20 b of sluices. Because the longitudinal position ofeach sluice is independently adjustable, it is possible to create manydifferent spread patterns for a variety of different applications andsituations by balancing longitudinal sluice positions, rotational speedsof the spinner discs and operating speeds of the conveyor belts.

The novel features will become apparent to those of skill in the artupon examination of the description. It should be understood, however,that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments,but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with thewording of the claims and the specification as a whole.

1. An apparatus for spreading particulate material, the apparatuscomprising: a bin for holding particulate material; a rotatable disc forbroadcasting the particulate material to a ground surface; a conveyorfor conveying the particulate material in a particulate material pathfrom the hopper to the rotatable disc; and, a plurality of sluicessituated in the particulate material path between the bin and therotatable disc, each sluice receiving a portion of the particulatematerial and delivering the portion of particulate material to a radialand/or angular position on the rotatable disc, at least one of thesluices independently moveable to adjust the radial and/or angularposition on the rotatable disc to which the portion of particulatematerial from the at least one independently moveable sluice isdelivered, each sluice comprising substantially vertically oriented sidewalls, an open first end for receiving the particulate material from theconveyor, an inclined floor inclined downwardly from the first end to anopen second end of the sluice so that the particulate material in thesluice flows freely out the open second end.
 2. The apparatus of claim1, wherein each of the plurality of sluices is independently moveable toadjust the radial positions on the rotatable disc to which the portionsof particulate material from the independently moveable sluices aredelivered.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable disccomprises first and second rotatable discs, and the plurality of sluicescomprises first and second sets of sluices, the first set of sluicesdelivering the particulate material to the first rotatable disc and thesecond set of sluices delivering the particulate material to the secondrotatable disc.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofsluices comprises at least four sluices.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the open first end is at a top of the sluice.
 6. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the sluices are independently moveable to adjust atleast the radial position on the rotatable disc to which the portion ofparticulate material is delivered.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising one or more crank adjusters, one or more linear actuators,one or more hydraulic cylinders, one or more pneumatic cylinders, orsome combination thereof for moving the sluices.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein: the sluices are disposed transversely to one anotherto form a series of parallel channels; each of the sluices isindependently moveable to adjust the radial positions on the rotatabledisc to which the portions of particulate material from theindependently moveable sluices are delivered; the substantiallyvertically oriented side walls of each sluice comprise elongated slots;and, the plurality of sluices comprises an elongated securing elementthat passes through the aligned elongated slots in the side walls sothat each of the sluices rests on the elongated securing element, eachof the sluices independently translatable on the elongated securingelement when not secured by the securing element and not translatablewhen secured by the securing element.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein the elongated securing element comprises a threaded rod and oneor more nuts, wherein tightening the one or more nuts on the rodimmobilizes the sluices and loosening the one or more nuts on the rodpermits the sluices to translate on the rod.
 10. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the substantially vertically oriented side walls of eachsluice are not common with any of the other sluices.
 11. A method ofcontrolling spread pattern of a particulate material broadcasted by aspinner spreader, the method comprising: permitting particulate materialto flow through a plurality of sluices situated in a particulatematerial path between a bin and a rotatable disc of a spinner spreader,each sluice receiving a portion of the particulate material anddelivering the portion of particulate material to a radial and/orangular position on the rotatable disc, each sluice comprisingsubstantially vertically oriented side walls, an open first end forreceiving the particulate material from the conveyor, an inclined floorinclined downwardly from the first end to an open second end of thesluice so that the particulate material in the sluice flows freely outthe open second end; and, adjusting the radial and/or angular positionon the rotatable disc to which the portion of particulate material fromat least one of sluices is delivered by moving the at least one of thesluices relative to the rotating disc thereby changing the spreadpattern of the particulate material broadcasted by the rotatable disc.12. The method according to claim 11, wherein each of the sluices in theplurality of sluices is independently moveable.
 13. The method accordingto claim 11 or 12, wherein rate at which the particulate material isdelivered to the rotatable disc is controlled to further change thespread pattern of the particulate material.
 14. The method according toclaim 11, wherein rotational speed of the rotatable disc is controlledto further change the spread pattern of the particulate material.